Sports Drink Market Size, Share, Opportunities, COVID-19 Impact, And Trends By Type (Hypotonic, Isotonic, Hypertonic), By Age Group (Below 20 Years, 20-40 Years, Above 40 Years), By Packaging (Pet Bottles, Cans), By Distribution Channel (Online, Offline (Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Others)), And By Geography - Forecasts From 2022 To 2027

The global sports drink market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.47% over the forecast period to reach a total market size of US$36.003 billion by 2027, increasing from US$23.218 billion in 2020. Sports drinks are functional drinks specifically designed to help athletes and other active people hydrate before, during, and after exercise (source: British Soft Drinks Association). Sports drinks are widely available and are preferred among athletes as they contain water and electrolytes like sodium and potassium which need replenishment when the body loses water and electrolytes after a heavy workout or sports activity. Growing health awareness, including the importance of hydration in the human body, is one of the major drivers driving the growth of the global sports drink market. However, concerns regarding the excessive intake of sports drinks leading to the possibility of tooth erosion may have a significant impact on restraining the market growth among the end-users.

Expanding the sports industry coupled with the increasing number of sports events is driving the growth of the market during the forecast period

The number of sports events has been increasing globally as there has been increasing investment in the sports industry over the years. The number of sports events that are being broadcast has also risen dramatically and is expected to increase even more, which is compelling the market players to invest more in the sports industry during the forecast period. In fact, according to the Chinese Athletic Association, 328 marathons with 2.8 million runners were held in China in 2017 alone compared with only twenty-two races in 2011, in which the total number of running events increased to 1102 races. Additionally, the Olympics saw an increase in the number of sporting events, from 306 in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics to 330 in the 2021 Japan Olympics. Furthermore, due to the increasing number of sports events, there is increasing investment in sports drinks by major market players in the form of promotions and new product launches, which is further anticipated to propel the market growth opportunities in the coming years.

Also, the sports industry in Japan is growing at a good pace and the government and private players are increasingly focusing on expanding sporting activity and infrastructure in the country, and also promoting Japanese sports overseas. For instance, in July 2018, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), Japan Sports Agency, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and Japan Sports Council collaborated to promote Japanese sports and the sports industry overseas. In India, the expenditure on the sports industry increased from INR 657 crores in 2011-12 to INR 1,749 crores in 2021-22 under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Adding to that, the Khelo India program was launched by PM Narendra Modi in February 2019 to promote sports and fitness. This rise in the sports industry is expected to increase demand for sports drinks, hence, augmenting the market growth.

Expanding retailing business-like convenience stores

In recent years, convenience and department stores with supermarkets have witnessed an increase in sales. The development and growth of convenience stores and other retail businesses are directly related to economic growth and the speed of urbanization which are projected to propel the market over the forecast period. Besides, with the growing number of smartphone users, time spent on the internet has also increased that driving the growth of e-commerce platforms which is also expanding the scope of distribution of sports drinks.

North America holds a significant share of the market

By geography, the sports drink market is segmented as North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The North American market is expected to hold a significant share of the market owing to the presence of major players coupled with the growing number of product launches in countries like Canada and the United States. In addition, a growing health-conscious population coupled with changing lifestyles are the factors boosting the demand for the product, and the rising availability of a variety of flavours is further expected to drive the market in the region.

The Asia Pacific region holds huge growth potential due to the presence of a significant young population in the region. The Good growth of the sports industry in countries like China and Japan is playing an important role in the burgeoning demand for sports drinks. The region is also expected to hold major sports events in the coming years, which is further boosting the demand for sports drinks. Growing consumer awareness regarding the health benefits of sports drinks coupled with the product development of organic sports drinks has also triggered market growth opportunities in the region over the forecast period. Furthermore, rising disposable incomes and living standards are encouraging Chinese and Indians to adopt the Western lifestyle.

Competitive Insights

Prominent key market players in the sports drink market include PepsiCo Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, SoBe, Danone S.A., Britvic PLC, Steric Trading Pty Ltd, Lucozade Ribena Suntory, BA Sports Nutrition, LLC, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Fraser and Neave, Limited. The number of players in the sports drink market is large and growing, with the opportunity to generate significant revenues as a result of growing demand. Key players in the market are seen to adopt differentiated strategies and are either looking to expand their market portfolio with investments in the development of a new product line, or some companies are opting for mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships to expand their market presence and/or expand their product line. In addition, market players are investing heavily in research and development and product launches of innovative, organic, and other flavoured sports drinks in the market. For instance, in April 2019, Coca-Cola launched its global sports drink brand PowerAde in India in June ahead of the ICC World Cup in order to compete with PepsiCo’s Gatorade. Also, in August 2018, Coca-Cola announced it had purchased a stake in the sports drink BodyArmor, making the move to diversify its beverage portfolio and acquired the remaining stake in the company in November 2021. Major market players in the global sports drink market have been covered along with their relative competitive positions and strategies. The report also mentions recent deals and investments by different market players over the last few years. The company profiles section details the business overview, financial performance (public companies) for the past few years, key products and services being offered, along with the recent deals and investments of this important player in the global sports drink market. In May 2021, Gatorade launched its new line of sports drink, Gatorlyte which is aimed at catering to elite athletes.

COVID-19 Insights

The initial phases of COVID-19 brought a slight dip in the market due to the shutting down of retail stores and supermarkets and the availability of only essential goods in online grocery stores in most countries. However, this was outweighed by the positive impact that the industry experienced due to the increasing amount of people working from home. In the US the consumption of these sports and energy drinks made the market experience annual growth of 15% as of July 2020. With the ease of restrictions and reopening of gym centres, an increase in gym memberships was observed due to the growing health awareness among people after the coronavirus outbreak. This further augmented the growth of the market to greater extents.

Sports Drink Market Scope:

Market Segmentation:

• By Type
  • Hypotonic
  • Isotonic
  • Hypertonic
• By Age group
  • Below 20 years
  • 20-40 years
  • Above 40 years
• By Packaging
  • Pet Bottles
  • Cans
• By Distribution Channel
  • Online
  • Offline
    • Supermarkets
    • Convenience stores
    • Others
• By Geography
  • North America
    • USA
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Others
  • Europe
    • UK
    • Germany
    • France
    • Spain
    • Italy
    • Others
  • Middle East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa
    • Others
  • Asia Pacific
    • Japan
    • China
    • India
    • South Korea
    • Thailand
    • Taiwan
    • Indonesia
    • Others